Memories of Arthur Weare

When I was about 12years old one of my most enjoyable memories of my summer holidays was with my Mum, Dad and sister. We regularly went camping to Port Talbot in South Wales. We set off with Dad’s 741 Indian Scout comprising of a double combination sidecar and homemade trailer laden with ex army ridge tent and all our personal utilities aboard. Mum was on pillion and Marie and myself in the sidecar. We set off at 6.00 in the morning riding all day heading towards Devizes then Birdlip Hill to connect to the Aust Ferry towards, I believe Port Skewett, then on to Port Talbot	1954, Mum beside outfit. This outfit was originally purchased as a bare body and trimmed by Arthur himself
1953, Fred & sister Marie on the trial run of the bell tent. 14 x 14 x 7ft high costing 12/6p	We finally arrived in the early hours of the morning at an old farm where we were going to camp, we looked like Billy Smart’s circus with all our accoutrements. We eventually settled down to sleep, completely exhausted, by now, it was 3’oclock in the morning, we seemed to have been asleep for only a short time when we were awoken by a terrifying noise which got louder and louder by the minute. We sat up in horror when we realized it was a train thundering towards us, it was the five o’clock train carrying Ore to Port Talbot.
In the darkness we had pitched our tent about four feet from the railway line!!! At daybreak we quickly moved to a safer distance. Dad put the Indian and sidecar with trailer in the tent and we sleep on ground sheets on the other side. Cooking facilities were one Primus stove with lots of matches! At last we settled down to our holiday.	1953, Fred beside the Indian & outfit in Wales
1953, Fred tries out the Indian for size at age 12 (how old is he now? you work it out)	Apart from the ablutions, when I awoke I asked Dad where the loo was, He said ‘Big ones or small ones?’ on replying ‘big ones Dad’ he handed me paper and a huge shovel nearly as big as me, he said ‘you walk down to the bottom of the field and do it behind the hedge’. So I did per instructions. But when I was adjusting my clothing I heard this voice shout saying ‘what are you doing, you dirty little bugger?’ on turning around it became clear that Dad’s directions had led me to the tenant farmers garden!!! After that we resorted to the bucket and chuck it!!!
Arthur Weare died last year aged Ninety Five just before his ninety-sixth birthday, he was our oldest member. His son Fred is going to tell us some of the many stories his Dad described to him and the fun they had with his Indian. Fred "Mr March" Weare	1958, Indian after some modification by Arthur, mudgards hand trimmed, airfilter made from an old saucepan, screen made and turned solo.
Wagons roll - The Indian, side car and trailer in Iron Acton on the way to Wales. Had to stop here to grease the squeeky wheel bearing on the trailer (running wheel barrow wheels). Followed by brother Derek on his BSA	Arthur at age 27 on his Triumph in Port Talbot. Sidecar was made by Arthur from plywood. He swapped a valve radio for the bike and spent his first week repairing the neighbours drainpipes, which he had damaged with the sidecar on his first voyage.

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